Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a well-established minimally invasive treatment for aortic valve diseases. The transvascular TAVI, which does not require open-chest surgery, is globally recognized as the least risky, most effective, and most mainstream TAVI treatment method. In the United States, over 90% of patients undergo transvascular TAVI procedures.

Led by Professor Chen Mao from the Department of Cardiology, the minimally invasive valve treatment team at West China Hospital of Sichuan University is a domestic leader and the only team in Sichuan Province specializing in transcatheter TAVI treatment. Under Professor Chen's leadership, the team performed the first TAVI procedure in Western China in 2012. They have achieved several technical breakthroughs, including TAVI for bicuspid aortic valve, rheumatic aortic valves, and pure aortic regurgitation. They have also completed globally innovative surgical procedures, such as the world's first "dry valve" TAVI and the first TAVI + Liwen procedure. To date, they have performed over 2500 TAVI cases, with the oldest patient being over 99 years old. Their procedure volume accounts for one-fourth of the national total, with a success rate exceeding 98%. They are one of the centers which treat the most cases of bicuspid aortic valve globally, attracting patients from far and wide to receive treatment at our hospital's cardiology department.

Professor Chen's team is also one of the main centers for minimally invasive valve clinical trials in China. They have completed or are currently completing pre-market clinical trials for a total of seven TAVI prosthetic valves, contributed to the launch of China's first commercialized TAVI valve and experienced in over nine types of TAVI valves. In addition, as the only Chinese partner of the renowned international academic conference PCR, the team has jointly organized 11 successful PCR Chengdu Valves, which have become top-tier international valve conferences. The team has also conducted live or recorded cases for multiple international conferences and has been invited multiple times to European and American countries for technical exchanges. They have assisted more than 20 provinces and cities, including Argentina, India, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hong Kong, in conducting TAVI procedures at their local major medical centers. The TAVI strategy proposed by the team (West China Experience) has been promoted to over a hundred major medical centers nationwide. In recognition of their significant contributions to the promotion and localization of TAVI, the team has been awarded important scientific and technological awards such as the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Progress Award and the Huaxia Medical Science and Technology Award, enjoying significant international prestige.